Shoulder exerciser



Dec. 19, 1961 c. s. WISE SHOULDER EXERCISER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1960 INVENTOR. CHARLES S. WISE ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1961 Filed March 9, 1960 C. S. WISE SHOULDER EXERCISER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES S WISE A TTORNE Y United States Patent() spas tea This invention deals generally with the field of medicine and particularly with physio-therapy devices.

At this time exercises which are therapeutic in nature are frequently practiced only in hospitals. This is the case because of the need and ability to acquire various devices which are essential to many such exercises and thus hospitals devote entire rooms to such equipment for the patients to use. Frequently patients are required to use a number of such apparatus and because of equipment size, expense, space requirements and the like. patients rarely obtain the devices for their own use at home. This causes some patients to remain longer in already overcrowded hospitals with overtaxed staffs during a rehabilitation period, which with proper equipment could just as elfectively be carried out at home.

These faults with physio-therapy equipment in general and the overcrowded hospital conditions which result are present problems where shoulder disabilities are involved.

in an attempt to alleviate the overcrowded conditions in hospitals and to make rehabilitation convenient and possible at home, it is an object of this invention to devise novel and improved physio-therapy equipment.

It is another object of this invention to devise novel and improved physio-therapy equipment for shoulder disabilities.

It is a further object of this invention to devise transportable and conveniently installable therapy equipment.

It is a still further object of this invention to devise equipment. for use in connection with shoulder disabili' ties which may be carried to ones home and easily installed for use at home.

For a better understanding of this invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein:

PEG. 1 is a perspective view partially exploded of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional top elevational view of an embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 3 illustrates the applications of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown embodiments of shoulder exercise apparatus according to this invention. This equipment is employed in connection with shoulder disabilities where motion is restricted due to adhesions or weakness of the surrounding muscles. it would be useful, for example, in conditions such as stiffness following immobilization after fracture of the shoulder, bursitis or tendinitis, adhesive capulitis (frozen shoulder), pain and restriction of shoulder motion in hemiplegia, i.e., paralysis of the arm and leg following a stroke, and in numerous other neurological disorders where shoulder weakness is a factor.

Considering now FIG. 1, a support frame 11 has on one wall thereof an exerciser, generally designated 12, and operating through the other Wall thereof, securing means, generally designated 13, which in operation secures the exerciser in position through cooperation with the opposite wall or wall on which exerciser 12 is mounted. Frame 11 comprises a substantially rigid member and may be formed of plastic, wood, metal or the like. Exerciser 12 comprises a fixedly mounted disc 15, a rotatable disc 15, red 17 and handle 18. These elements of exerciser 12 are generally rigid members and like frame 11 may be formed of metal, wood, plastic or the like. In

1 the embodiment illustrated there is sandwiched between Patented Dec. 19, 1961 stationary disc 15 and rotatable disc 16 a washer like wafer 20. Discs 15 and 16, wafer 20 and rod 17 are all mounted on axle 21 which in this embodiment includes at least a threaded and slotted end on which wing nut 22 may be affixed. Rod 17 is secured to disc 16 causing disc 16 to move with movement of rod 17 and wing nut 22 is adjustable on axle 21 providing means to compress the elements of exerciser 12 together in a controllable fashion. A keyed lock washer 24 and a bearing 23 is positioned between wing nut 22 and rod 17 to prevent wear of rod 17 during rotation and lock washer 24 is fitted into groove 19 of axle 21 to assure that wing nut 22 does not loosen or tighten while exerciser 12 is in operation. Wafer 20 is in this embodiment a resistance or friction creating element and may comprise leather, plastic, various compositions of materials or the like. As should be apparent if all elements on axle 21 are substantially free of one another as would be the case if wing nut 22 were positioned at the extreme end of axle 21 then rod 17 would rotate freely and with substantially no resistance to overcome. However, when wing nut 22 is adjusted to compress the elements on axle 21, wafer 26 is sandwiched between stationary disc 15 and rotating disc 16. Accordingly, wafer 2%) acts as a braking mechanism and applies a load or resistance to movement to rod 17 through disc 16. Leather material has been extremely effective in wafer 20 and has allowed fine controls on the resistance applied but as should be apparent many materials would efiectuate the purpose of wafer 20 in this embodiment. Other means of providing a resistance to movement such as a number of wafers and discs or a hollow structure having an internal braking mechanism or controllable governor type resistance or the like may be used and it should be appreciated that the type shown and described is only one of the many that have been tried and one of the many that have been used successfully, and inclusion of this particular arrangement is for illustrative purposes only. Rod 17 is generally longer than the length of the average arm and is adjustable to fit the individual arm length by having means to vary the position of handle 18. In this embodiment these means comprise holes 28 in rod 17 and means in handle 18 C0111.

prising handle axle 25 terminating at one end in a threaded portion 26 and wing nut 27 to allow positioning of handle 18 at a proper hole 28 so that the rod length from axle 21 to handle 18 is generally equal to the users arm length. Handle 18 is mounted in respect to handle axle 25 and rod 17 to freely rotate and this may be accomplished through the use of ball hearings or the like. Handle 18 is formed having a groove 30 along its surface. Groove 36 is adapted to maintain in position a rope or the like. Holes 28 should be uniformly spaced along rod 17 and generally these spaces in this embodiment should be about one inch apart. It, of course, should be realized that other means exist to provide for adjustable positioning of handle 18 along rod 17. For example, handle 18 could have clamping means to provide for locking in place along rod 17. However, whatever the means for adjustment in the length of rod 17 there should be provided ridges or the like spaced uniformly along rod 17 and generally about one inch apart to thus make rod 17 useful in exercising a patient in accordance with this invention. Securing means 13 in this embodiment come prises two pressure plates 31 (only one of which is apparent) and two control handles 32. This portion of the device is shown more clearly in FIG. 2 and will be discussed in detail in connection with FIG. 2. It should be realized however, that many known ways of supporting a device of this nature are well known and any system known to the art to secure the exerciser of this invention for utilization is intended to be included herein and the 3 means illustrated and described is only included as one possible means and as an example.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown another embodiment of my intention. In FIG.- 2 where the elements are the same as those in FIG. 1 the same numerals have been used. In this figure securing means 13 operating through a wall in support frame 11 is more apparent. It comprises control handle 32 (another control handle 32 is located directly beneath the one shown) and pressure plate 31. Control handle 32 includes a threaded portion which is rotated by turning control handle 32 causing pressure plate 31 to move either toward or away from the wall of frame 11 through which the threaded portion passes. Pressure plate 31 includes in this embodiment a cushion layer 33 of foam rubber, cork, or the like.- As illustrated pressure plate 31 presses against a support such as door 35 and cushion layer 33 prevents the surface of the door from being scratched, marred or otherwise damaged. A second cushion layer 36 appears on the face of the wall of support frame 11 facing cushion layer 33 of pressure plate 31 and this second cushion layer 36 presses against the opposite side of door 35. As in FIG. 1, exerciser 12 comprises a fixedly mounted disc 15, a rotatable disc 16, rod 17, handle 18 and wafer 20. Also, elements of exerciser 12 are mounted on axle 21 and wing nut 22 rovides a means for compressing the elements together while hearing 23 and lock Washer 24 prevent wear of rod 1'7 during rotation. Rod 17 includes holes 18 and uniformly positioned ridges 37. Handle 18 is mounted on handle axle 25 including a threaded portion 26 and wing nut 27. In addition, a spacer 38 is positioned on handle axle 25 to position handle 18 outside of ridges 37 in this embodiment. Groove 30 is formed in handle 18 and handle 18 is so mounted so that it can rotate freely.

In FIGS. 3A, B, and C there are illustrated a few uses of this invention. These are included herein as examples and not as limitations. In FIG. 3A it is being used as a shoulder wheel. In FIG. 3B it is being used as a finger ladder. In FIG. 3C it is being used as an overhead pulley.

Shoulder wheel": This can be used with the patient standing with his back to the device, thus allowing for the arm to be abducted through a 180 degree angle to a full range of normal motion. Resistance can be adjusted to increase muscle strength throughout the range of this normal movement. With the subject facing the handpiece attached to the rod as illustrated in FIG. 3A a movement of the rod will bring the shoulder trough 180 degrees of forward fiexion. Facing the exerciser the shoulder can be brought throughout a 360 degree angle of circurnduction, which is a combination of all other shoulder movements. With the patient facing the handpiece again, and this time elevating the arm with the elbow bent at a right angle and the handpiece adjusted to the length of the patients forearm, the rod can be rotated 90 degrees upward and 90 degrees downward, allowing for external and internal rotation of the shoulder. In all the above exercises resistance is adjusted to allow for the necessary strength of the appropriate muscle groups.

Finger Ladder: With the patient standing facing the finger ladder as shown in FIG. 3B at an appropriate distance from the device but using the index and middle fingers, the arm climbs up the ladder, keeping the elbow straight and stretching the shoulder into forward fiexion, the ladder supporting the weight of the arm on the fingers, thus relieving pain if present. By positioning the patients sagittal axis perpendicular to the door or wall the arm can be stretched into the range of abducfi n Overhead Pulley: This is used with the patient standing in an appropriate position below the pulley as illustrated in FIG. 3C so the unaffected arm can passively stretch the atfected shoulder in the range of abduction or forward fiexion. By this means the patient can guide the amount of stretching he can tolerate.

As is apparent there has been disclosed a portable device which is readily attached and removed from standard doors or other supporting edges readily available in homes. Further, this device incorporates elements which as described can be used in various manners to treat disorders. Since this apparatus is easily transported and installed in the home patients can leave hospitals sooner and frequent trips to the physical therapists ofiice can be eliminated.

While this invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments it is to be realized that modifications in the structures may be made without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable shoulder exerciser comprising a frame, securing means at said frame adapted to secure said frame to a support, a pivot at said frame, a rod having transverse ridges uniformly positioned therealong radially attached to said pivot for rotation about said pivot, said ridges being positioned and disposed to permit finger climbing along said rod, means to apply resistance to rotation of said rod and to lock said rod in a selected position, a rotatable hand piece on said rod positioned at a selected one of variable positions along the rod, said variable positions being at variable distances from said pivot, and a groove in said hand piece to maintain a moving rope in position on said hand piece.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means Within said frame to cushion and protect a support surface to prevent marring thereof by said frame.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said ridges along said red are about one inch apart.

4. A portable shoulder exerciser comprising a frame, clamping means at said frame to clamp said frame to a support therefor, a stationary disc mounted on said frame, a rotatable disc mounted coaxially with said stationary disc, a rod radially attached at an end thereof to said rotatable disc, ridges uniformly positioned along said rod thereby forming a finger ladder when said rod is in position extending upward from said rotatable disc, means at said discs to apply resistance to rotation of said rotatable disc, a grooved rotatable hand piece affixed to said rod, and means along said rod to position said hand piece at selected distances from said rotatable disc, said rod being sufiiciently long to allow positioning of said hand piece at varying arm lengths from said rotatable disc.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means at said discs to apply resistance comprises a wafer-like frictional member between said discs, and means to compress said rotatable disc against said wafer and said wafer against said stationary disc. 

